Robotic companion animals may help hospitalized patients with dementia recover faster and return home sooner, according to a clinical trial conducted at Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) in the United States. The study highlights how relatively simple digital health interventions can deliver meaningful clinical and social benefits in acute-care settings.
Hospital admissions can be highly disorienting for people living with dementia. Unfamiliar environments, constant noise and frequent medical procedures increase the risk of delirium, a condition associated with prolonged recovery, functional decline and extended hospital stays.
To address this challenge, SMH sponsored a year-long clinical trial exploring whether robotic companion pets could help reduce stress and improve outcomes for hospitalized older adults with mild to moderate dementia. The study was led by nursing quality specialist Joanna D’Elia and is among the first to evaluate this non-pharmacological, technology-based intervention in an acute-care hospital environment.
Technology-enabled companionship
Half of the participating patients were offered a choice between a robotic cat or dog. These devices are designed to mimic real pets: the cats blink and purr when stroked, while the dogs respond with tail wagging and barking. Sensors allow the robots to react to touch and sound, creating an interactive experience intended to provide comfort and companionship.
Patients were allowed to keep the robotic pets with them throughout their hospital stay and, notably, were permitted to take the devices home after discharge. “I wanted to find a way to engage patients with dementia and give them companionship in the hospital, something beyond sitting in a room focused solely on medical care,” D’Elia said in a hospital statement.
Clinically relevant outcomes
According to the researchers, the effects went beyond improved patient experience. Patients who used robotic pets experienced fewer episodes of dangerously low heart rate and blood pressure, indicators often linked to stress and agitation. They also had a reduced risk of falls, a major safety concern among hospitalized older adults.
The most striking results related to discharge outcomes. Patients with robotic pets had shorter hospital stays and were significantly more likely to return directly to their own homes, rather than being discharged to assisted living or nursing facilities. “These findings suggest that emotional support and engagement can have a measurable impact on physical recovery,” SMH officials noted.
Low-cost innovation
Deb Kabinoff, a member of the SMH board, emphasised the broader significance of the project. “What made this initiative so compelling was not just the technology itself, but the well-known calming effect pets can have, especially for people with dementia in unfamiliar environments,” she said.
While large academic medical centres often dominate clinical research, SMH leaders point out that this study demonstrates how community hospitals can also drive meaningful innovation. The organisation hopes its (as yet unpublished) findings will encourage wider adoption of similar low-cost, scalable digital health solutions.
As healthcare systems search for ways to improve outcomes for ageing populations without increasing medication use or costs, robotic companion pets may offer a simple but effective addition to dementia care in the hospital and beyond.
